MIAMI, Florida (July 28, 2005)The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today described government action against Venezuelan newspaper El Universal as interference in the editorial policy of an independent newspaper and an affront to free speech and press freedom.
The hemisphere free press organization responded to an announcement by Venezuelan Attorney General Isaías Rodríguez that an official investigation would be opened to determine whether there was or was not a punishable offense in the daily newspapers editorial of July 25, 2005. The Attorney General claimed the editorial offends, exposes to public ridicule and vilifies the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the judicial branch.
Gonzalo Marroquín, chairman of the IAPAs Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, said that this new action demonstrates once again the existence of an ongoing government strategy against freedom of the press, which has already seen amendment of the Penal Code and increased sanctions for critics of public officials.
Marroquín, editor of the Guatemala City, Guatemala, daily newspaper Prensa Libre, added, The resistance of Venezuelan officials and their rejection of criticism is notable and shows a lack of awareness of the valuable role the press plays in a democratic society. Democracy demands a particularly high tolerance for criticism, especially when dealing with opinions that should be refuted and debated on equal terms.
Intimidating the news media through investigations or threats of conducting investigations and imposing punishment, is nothing less than an abuse of governmental privilege, Marroquín declared. The ultimate aim of these intimidating actions is to limit freedom of the press and the right of the Venezuelan people to be informed.
He added that the IAPA stands solidly behind the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression contained in the Declaration of Chapultepec, whose Article 10 states, No news medium nor journalist may be punished for publishing the truth or criticizing or denouncing the government.
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